Friday, May 28, 2010

Traveling photo exhibition highlights beauty and strength of women and girls of the Democratic Republic of Congo

June 4 – July 25, 2010

Exhibition opens during Three Rivers Arts Festival

SPACE, 812 Liberty Avenue, Cultural District

Pittsburgh, PA

The average lifespan of a woman in the Democratic Republic of Congo is 46 years.

Congo/Women is a traveling photography exhibit highlighting the beauty and strength of the girls and women of the Democratic Republic of Congo who are currently battling an unprecedented wave of gender based violence and a lack of essential medical care. Featuring the work of Lynsey Addario, Marcus Bleasdale, Ron Haviv, and James Nachtwey the installation weaves large portraits of these women and contextual images of the culture and history of the region together into an environment which describes the full complexity of this challenge. Video and audio testimony accompanies the exhibit, allowing viewers to gain and in depth understanding of the crisis. Pregnancy as a result of rape, obstetric and traumatic fistula, HIV infection, permanent reproductive health damage, and death will be discussed, as well as the inevitable societal stresses caused by such atrocities. Curated from a combination of recently taken photography and newly commissioned work – particularly of women and girls recovering from violence – the exhibit will provide a comprehensive view of the issue and its possible solutions.

The exhibit is accompanied by a website ([BLINK: http://lists.pgharts.org/t/559088/352247/377/0/] ) which provides links to immediate actions that visitors who view the exhibit can take to provide support. In addition, visitors to the site and to the exhibition can post their own portraits on our visual petition, providing an international demonstration of the growing support that will be raised. Media attention to opening events is promoted by local connections of each institution and with the national support of human rights groups. Congo/Women can be loaned by interested venues for an affordable cost. The format is flexible and our curators will work with each institution to help them present the imagery in an appropriate fashion.

Congo/Women is co-produced by Art Works Projects and the Ellen Stone Belic Institute of the Study of Women and Gender in the Arts and Media, Columbia College Chicago. The exhibition was organized by Leslie Thomas with creative advisor Jane M. Saks.

Major support for Congo/Women has been provided by United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, Humanity United, and Leadership Donors of the Ellen Stone Belic Institute for the Study of Women and Gender in the Arts and Media Columbia College Chicago.

ABOUT THE CO-DIRECTORS

Leslie Thomas, Curator and Co-DirectorLeslie Thomas is the founding Executive Director of Art Works Projects: Art and Design for Human Rights and a partner with the New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles based LARC Inc. and LARC Studio practices.

Jane M. Saks, Creative Advisor and Co-DirectorJane Saks is the founding Executive Director of the Ellen Stone Belic Institute for the Study of Women and Gender in the Arts and Media Columbia College Chicago, and a feminist activist, arts administrator, writer and educator.

A project of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, SPACE is free and open to the public. NEW HOURS: Wednesday-Thursday 11 am to 6 pm; Friday-Saturday 11 am to 8 pm; and 11 am to 5 pm on Sundays (with free street parking). For more information call (412) 325-7723 or visit spacepittsburgh.org.

pittsburgh galleries is reborn anew as The Pittsburgh Art Blog. the blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh art advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.